[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 2-5
Seasonal Record: 43-60 (t-6th, 25 GB)
Stars of the Week
John Lawson : 31 AB, 15 H, 1 HR, 9 RBI, .484 AVG, 1.142 OPS
Bert Wilson : 28 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .321 AVG, .923 OPS
Dave Rankin : 2 Wins, 19.0 IP, 4 BB, 6 K, 1.42 ERA

Schedule
7-27: Loss at Stars (7-17)
7-28: Win at Stars (6-1)
7-29: Loss at Saints (1-6)
7-30: Loss at Saints (3-5)
7-31: Loss at Saints (8-13)
8-1: Loss at Cannons (4-5)
8-2: Win at Cannons (13-5)

Recap
If we only focus on the Dave Rankin starts this week, we were 2-0! So let's only focus on Dave Rankin starts! The first was the finale in New York where Rankin tossed a complete game and we won 6-1. He allowed 12 hits, a run, and 3 walks with a pair of strikeouts. Former Star John Lawson led the offense, 3-for-4 with a walk, RBI, and two runs scored. Doc Love, Mike Taylor, and Roy Ford all recorded two hit outings with the latter two driving in a pair of runs. He did pitch on the first, a hit and a strikeout before his next start. Both were against Baltimore, and a trio of errors made Rankin's stat line in the start a little uglier then it should have been. It didn't matter as we won 13-5, but he evened his record to 13 and 13 with 10 hits, 5 runs (2 earned), a walk, and 3 strikeouts. His 86 strikeouts are now second best in the league, he's matched his win total from last season, and his 3.80 ERA (122 ERA+) is the best of his career so far. The lessening of our offensive park factors has really benefitted Rankin as he was tagged for 27 home runs last year. This year's he's allowed just 9 in 210.2 innings pitched and he shouldn't allow more then 15. He's been the lone shining star on the staff and I think with Hardin Bates joining the staff he'll get a little of the weight off his back. To make room for Bates, I'll be DFA'ing the struggling Mike Smith.

As per usual, John Lawson was great 15-for-31 with a double, homer, 9 RBI's, 7 runs, and 3 walks. A lot of part time players did well too, with Paul McLain 5-for-16 with 3 doubles, a triple, and 3 RBI's in his first four games as a Cougar. He had a minor nagging injury, so I gave him a few days off to start the week, but it definitely didn't do anything to his bat. Mike Taylor was 5-for-11 with a double, 2 walks, and 3 RBI's. Pete Asher was 3-for-6 with a pair of runs scored. Bert Wilson started all seven games, but he was a solid 9-for-28 with a double, triple, homer, 3 walks, 5 RBI's, and 8 runs scored. Ray Ford didn't have a great week, but he finally hit another home run.

Looking Ahead
Thankfully, we're off to start the week, and we'll get to head home for a much needed homestand. We'll host the Wolves for four before the Sailors for two. It's not a long homestand, just for the week, but I'm hoping it will help right the ship a bit. We're either going to finish 6th or 7th, as both the Wolves and Saints are 51-52 and I can't see us catching either. Toronto has been led by young ace Joe Hancock who's just been fantastic on the mound. The former first overall selection is 10-8 with a 3.43 ERA (140 ERA+), 1.36 WHIP, 59 walks, and 72 strikeouts in 149.2 innings pitched. Unfortunately, Chuck Cole has really struggled this season, 14-9 with a 4.95 ERA (97 ERA+), 1.53 WHIP, 73 walks, and 80 strikeouts in his 169 innings pitched. He's third in the CA in strikeouts and I expect his ERA to decline as the season winds down. The other three starters, Jake Smith (115), Chick Wirtz (110), and Otis Cook (103) all have above average ERA+ and I can see them finishing with five. What's scary is that there is still a lot of talent in the farm including George Garrison and Buddy Long who both project as top of the rotation pitchers. The offense has plenty of wholes, but offseason acquisition Larry Vestal looks like a piece to build upon. He's hitting .359/.411/.489 (122 OPS+) with 2 homers, 4 steals, and 64 RBI's in 462 trips to the plate.

It's only two with the Sailors, but they're 64-39 and tied for second with the Foresters and just four out of first. I'm not going to say I called it, but I did mention how I thought Merritt Thomas could be an effective starter. He's been far more then effective in his 19 starts, 12-5 with a 3.34 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 36 walks, and 62 strikeouts across 143 innings pitched. At just 28, Thomas could be starting the prime of his career and you can add his name to another long list of quality starters to come through the Sailors organization. All five of their starters have above average ERA+ and 9 or more wins in one of the most reliable rotations out there. Dick Walker has continued his excellent offensive season, slashing .335/.436/.499 (131 OPS+) with 21 doubles, 8 triples, 10 homers, 19 steals, 76 walks, and 70 RBI's. He continues to be one of the most interesting players in the league and the face of the Sailors. 23-year-old rookie Jorge Nava has hit well too, slashing .325/.441/.466 (124 OPS+) with 3 homers, 13 steals, 24 doubles, and 45 RBI's in 363 trips to the plate. The week ahead will be tough and I can't see us scoring all that many runs. We may continue our fall, which may be better for the team. I want to pick up as many wins as possible, but we're not quite there yet.

Minor League Report
3B Hank Stratton (AA Mobile Commodores): Now up to 26, Hank Stratton has put together a very impressive hit streak. His July was impressive and he hit .431/.445/.569 with a homer and 27 RBI's which was good enough for the Batter of the Month award. He's a lefty hitter with an elite contact tool and he's really showing that off this year. In 410 trips to the plate he's got a .378/.392/.513 (137 OPS+) line, but Stratton almost always puts the ball in play. He has just three homers, 8 walks, and 16 strikeouts so almost 95% of his plate appearances ended with a fielder making a play. I'm not sure how this will pan out at our park, but at the right stadium, Stratton probably could hit .400. I wish he had an ounce of power, but for now Stratton is basically a better John Kincaid. He turns 22 in August, so there's a lot of time for the power to come around, but even without it he's a top five third basemen.

RHP Neal Wilkinson (B San Jose Cougars): We swept the Player of the Month awards in San Jose, with 1932 16th Round selection Neal Wilkinson taking the pitching portion. The 22-year-old was 4-0 with a 4.09 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 9 walks, and 9 strikeouts in 33 innings pitched. It's really not the most impressive month, but Wilkinson has had a strong year. In 16 starts he is 10-3 with a 4.97 ERA (106 ERA+), 1.50 WHIP, 36 walks, and 27 strikeouts in an extremely hitter friendly league. He's not one of our top pitching prospects anymore, but he's got the potential to develop into an interesting four pitch starter. He's got a decent curve and low 90s fastball, but his control can evade him at times and he's susceptible to high pitch counts. He had decent strikeout numbers in La Crosse, so I'm hoping he'll be able to boost it up from 2.4, even if it's not the 4.7 and 4.8 from the prior seasons.

1B Cuno Myer (B San Jose Cougars): The hitter portion of the award winners, the switch hitter slashed .423/.474/.596 with 8 doubles, 2 triples, 2 homers, 25 RBI's, and 10 walks. A 22nd Round selection from 1932, Myer is in the midst of a breakout year. He's batting an impressive .360/.417/.469 (120 OPS+) with 4 homers, 71 RBI's, and 34 walks in his 379 plate appearances. I noted Myer's defense issues last season, and those are definitely still there, but at least he's hitting like he should. I'm not the biggest fan of bat only players, but a few more months like this last one and I'll find a way to like Myer.